What happens in the Kaiser Permanente laboratory?

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Quick Answer

The processes that occur in the Kaiser Permanente laboratory vary depending on the lab. For example, in the hematology section of the lab, doctors and technicians analyze blood cells and plasma, notes KaiserPermanente.org.

There are several sections that comprise a Kaiser Permanente laboratory. When a blood or bodily fluids sample goes to the lab, it might visit the chemistry, hematology or microbiology section or a combination of any of those sections.

The microbiology section of the lab tests bodily fluids for the presence of things such as fungi, bacteria and parasites. If a doctor has taken samples of stool, urine, blood or sputum, they may end up in this section.

The chemistry section of the lab tests for things such as chemicals, drugs and substances that may indicate disease. This is the lab that tests for conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes, and some tests in this lab may be used to check thyroid function, states KaiserPermanente.org.

The virology lab checks for viral infections. Sometimes the lab looks for a particular virus, and other times it tests elements of a patient's immune system to find out if it has been compromised by a virus. Common tests performed by the virology lab include those for HIV and the flu.

The molecular diagnostics lab has a variety of DNA and RNA testing equipment and checks for conditions such as autoimmune diseases and blood-clotting disorders.